Title: Tithen Dulin Author: Mystkyten (mystkyten@cox.net) Pairing: Legolas/OFC

Rating: R

WARNING: abuse of a child. Please do not read if this bothers you. I know that there are not many references to elves being evil, but the way I figure it, if there are good and bad human, then there are good and bad elves. If you do not agree, do not read this story. ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters you recognize, they belong to Tolkien, I am only borrowing them for a little while. I promise to bring them back in the same condition as I found them, maybe with a little wear and tear.

^means thought^ *means human speak* ***means flashback*** "means elven"

Please R/R

Chapter 2

Heart racing, sweat pouring down her face, Tithen Dulin woke from a sound sleep. She looked around the room she was in. She remembered the tall golden haired elf that was her friend, putting her in the bed. She peered around trying to see if should could find him. He would make the bad dreams go away.

Quietly she tiptoed to the door. Glancing into the hall, all she saw were more doors, but which one would lead her to her friend? She shrugged her little shoulders; she would just have to choose one. Making sure no one spotted her; she sneaked down the hall to a large door. She pushed on it with all her strength, finally it opened.

The splendor of the room amazed her, temporarily making her forget her mission. The room was much larger then hers and it took her a few moments to see the figure sound asleep in the middle of a large bed.

Giggling she slowly crept up on the sleeping elf. Without waking him, the child eased her way under the covers. She burrowed into the warm body next to her, tucking her head into his shoulder. Sleep finally overtook her and she drifted off into peaceful slumber.

Bodies everywhere. Where was she? Flames leaped in anger. Bodies, all the bodies. There, a glimpse of purple Please no, please no.

"NO!" He jerked up in the bed, his body drenched in sweat. King Thranduil took a deep breath, struggling to get himself back under control. It had been many centuries since he last had that dream.

As his world slowly came back to him, he noticed a warm feeling against his side. He was startled to find the human child curled up next to him. What was this child doing here? He bent towards the child intending to wake her and send her out of his room. A soft whimper escaped her lips. He frowned as he saw her face contorted with fear. *Mama, come back, please don't leave me.* She started to toss and turn. Thranduil raised a shaky hand and slowly started to brush her hair back from her face. "Shhh. Pen-neth. (young one)" He murmured, his voice broke as if from nonuse. "You are safe here." After a few moments the child seemed to settle.

Thranduil eased out of the bed and grabbed his robe. As he secured the robe, he looked down at the sleeping babe, conflicting expressions making their way across his face. What was it about this child that tormented him so? He knew that she was innocent of everything but being human. Had he gone so far as to blame children for all the ills that befell him? Punishing a child for the deeds of others was not right.

A sweet perfume seemed to fill the air. "Gwaeren" He filled his lungs with the scent of wild flowers. Shaking his head, the king of Mirkwood strengthened his resolve. He strode to a chest at the back of the room. The chest was very plain and was covered with a plain red cloth. Thranduil removed the cloth and opened the chest. He closed his eyes in pain as the memories flooded him. Taking a deep breath he struggled to get himself back under control. The chest contained what seemed to be toys and other childhood items. He reached into the chest pushing items this way and that looking for a specific item. At the sight of a small doll, he almost seemed to break, but he gathered himself and continued to sift through the small items. Once he found his goal, he closed the chest and headed back to the slumbering child. Not realizing he had not replaced the doll. Without waking the child he tucked the small stuffed wolf into her arms. She muttered softly, clutched the animal tight and drifted back to sleep.

TBC